Water-heater.



D. H. MOSTELLER.

WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 4. 1914.

1,138,593. Patented May 4,1915.l

AnruTisD sTATEs `PATENT clinics.

DOSIER'H. MOSTELLER, 0F CHICAG, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 .JOHN M. BERRY ANDWILLIAM TINSLEY, BOTH F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

wATEn-HEATEn Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application filed Mayr 4, 1914. Serial N o. 836,276.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DosIER H. MosTELLER,

'a citizen of the United States, residing at operated by an electriccurrent for raising water to a high temperature, or for ing steam ifdesired.

ln the present invention, l have sought to provide a heater of the kindabove noted which shall be capable of bringing a quantity of water totheboiling temperature in a very short space of time; to so combine andarrange the parts that the heat once generated will be retained for along time vafter the device has ceased to operate; to utilize a seriesof tubes within which the water is heated, these tubes being designed toconduct theheat in the most efficient manner; to arrange heating coilsadjacent the. water tubes, these coils being independently removableshould such an operation be necessary; and to generally arrange,proportion and design the parts to provide a very coinproducpact andeliicient structure for the purpose intended.

rEhe invention consists further in numerous other features ofconstruction and combinations oit parts as hereinafter described bodyingthe improved features of my invention; Fig. 2 is ahorizontal sectionthrough` the device; lfigf is an enlarged detail showthe connectionsbetween the heating tubes and the hollow endgmembers; and l is anenlarged detail showing in cross section the construction oi' theheating tubes.

in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, l have shown an outershell or leasing 5 of ornamental iinish within which is housed an innercasing 6 preferably ormed of a` heat insulatin substance. For thispurpose, as well as or reasons of strength and durability, l haveselected transito as a material for this inner casing. ilfshaped rods 7suitably secured in place surround the inner casing both to retain theconstituent parts thereof in assembled relation, and' to serve asspacing elements whereby an air chamber is provided the inner and outercasings. Legs or rests 8 are disposed beneath the device to affordaproper support for the same. Upon one of the side faces, l have arrangeda bushing 9 through which electrical conductors may pass to the interiorof the heater', the central of the current utilized being effected bymeans of the switch 10.

`Within the heating device are arranged two major elements, viz., thewater reservoir ll and the heating apparatus l2. A pipe l connection 18delivers water into'thereservoir, the delivery end 14C thereof beinglocated near vone end of the reservoir for purposes to be hereafterexplained. Exteriorly of the device a valve l5 is shown operativelypositioned in the pipe 13 and capable of controlling the'maximum andminimum rate of flow of liquid into the reservoir, although preferablynot arranged to shut oil? entirely the inflow of water. llhe exteriorend 16 of the pipe i3 is shaped to connect with any'A source of watersupply, a convenient means for connection being obtained by the use of arubber'hose.

rl`l1e heating apparatus consists essentially of a series of flattenedtubes 17 formed preferably of copper, and heating elements i8 adjacentthereto. These flattened tubes are arranged between hollow end members19, the ends of the'tubes being closed and carried. into the members ina manner to interrupt longitudinal communication therewithin, theconnections between the tubes and members being rendered tight againstleakage. A

Communicationbetween each of the flattened tubes and the hollow endmembers is established by the provision of slots 2O on alternate sidesof the tube, so that these tubes are disposed in series arrangement,(see Fig. 3). An inspection of Fig. l discloses that a path oit travelis provided coinmencing at the right hand end of the resertube having aWidth of as much as three.

inches,.the interior space between the flat Walls not exceeding 1/32 ofan inch. rlhe tube interior is then sub-divided by the pro.

vision oi longitudinal Walls 22 Which cause the liquid flowingtherethrough to travel in several 'thin streams or sheets. lhen ready tobe joined to the hollow end members, the ends ot the tubes may be forcedtogether as appears in Fig. il, a slot 2G at each end extending acrossone oi the flat sides being provided. These slots l arrange in oppositesides, so that in the assembled structure the tubes communicate WithAeach other in a series arrangement.

Between each of the tubes suiiicient space is allovved for the insertionof a bloclr oitl insulating material. 23, such as transito. Coils ofWire 24; Which prefer should vbe flat or ribbon-like are Wound aroundeach block, these coils serving as heating means when energized by acurrent oi electricity. When operatively positioned, a thin insulatingstrip 25, such as mica, is placed on each side oi the bloei: so Wound toprevent snorting of the current against the copper tubes. Each .heatingelement i8 consisting of the blocl: and Wire coiled therearoundconstitutes 'an independent unit, and may separately moved iirorndevice, if necessary. 'lllne vvire coils l have yshown connected attheir ends in series arrangement, although shunt `Winding might be usedif found desirable.

lin the device herein described, l have n to employ copper as' themateri 'l the Water tubes, this loeingreadily loendable to shape, andbeing an excellent conductor ol heat. 'lhe `tlatteneai arra @ern-ent,whereby the spacer.1 hin afford but very thE 1 passage for Water, bringsheated' vtr-.tls into much closer proximity vvith every portion of theWater than would otherwise possible. Furthermore, the area of surface atthe edges of the tubes vvhen so '.orrned'is relatively negligible ascompared with the area of the surfaces which are in intimate proximitythe heating coils at every point. Another very important feature is theprovision or interior Walls which taire the heat from outer rrolls byconductivity and deliver the same to ne thin body oi" Water over greatarea oi s lace intermediate the inside surfaces,oi2 o ilat Walls ot theglaibe. lue to these principles of construction, find possiblefto raisethe temperature or body or' cool Water arno ting to abou a glassiul tothe boiling 'point in less than The blocks Wire is Wound correspond veryclosely in vshape and size to the copper tubes. Several advantagesresult from this. The tubes vare spaced apart but very little distance,thus minimizing the distance through which the Water must iioW in theunheated hollow end members. Again, except at the very thin edges orthese blocks, practically the entire surface of the Wire coils applyheat directly against the Water tubes. ln the arrangement shown, theuppermost tubedthat closest to the point or discharge is heated directly*from one side only. Since the temperature of the Water close to the endoi its travel must necessarily be the highest, this method ofconstruction is the most efficient.

From lFig. l, it appears that the total capacity oil the Water tubes isconsiderably less than that or the Water reservoir.- This arrangement ispreferred, since by subjecting only a small volume of Water to theaction of the heating elements, the desired temperature may quickly beattained. The

body or Water remaining Within the reser voir is affected onlyindirectly by this heating action. The insulated construction which haveprovided insures, moreover, the retention oi? considerable heat Withinthe device, such as to cause t'ne vvater in the reservoir to be warmed,inept a relau l' vvarrn temperature, even after heating coils are nolonger energized. fr ie value of suc` arrangement is especially when oneheater is operated interntly.

The inner casing have as consisting` preferably of some electrica"dsulating also retain device the heat described heat and serves tc whichis generated. is unnecessary to protect exposed edges o ne copper tubesor the bloclr around vv ic the v/ire is Wound as contact therevvi reslts in no harm. As an additional proven ative against loss of heat, airspace between the inner and outm casinrjs isprovided. ln this spaceivi-. s le., Wang tothe switch and bushing locateo., so that no valuablespace Within the appliance is taken tor this purpose.

ln operation, the device is connected to a pipe having a head orpressure of Water therein. lWhen the valve 'l is opened, the 'watercirculates through he reservoir each o1 the heating tubes, its dischargebeing checked only by the coclr 2l. During the periods of operation,when the Water tubes are being heated, it is intended that the valve'should be opened, that the cocli bei .ouch v.fatc as is required. @bvrously the or 'llovv or vvater 'through the l is controlled. inasmuch,furas nur. or -units deanipnlated to all-ovv discharge temperature ofthe water discharging from the cock- 21 varies according to the rate atwhich the water is allowed to flow through the'heatin tubes. Regulationof the inflow and out ow of water, therefore, results in control oftemperature of discharging water.

In the arrangement illustrated, the flow of water through the tubes isdependent, among other things, upon the head or pressure within theconnected pipe line. This form, of construction is admirably suitedwhere the device is to be used for bars, fountains, and-similarpurposes. It is manifest that, where such plumbing connections are notavailable, the reservoir could be located adove the heating tubes, so asto cause a flow of water 'therethrough by the action of gravity.l Suchmodifications in construction and arrangement are clearly possible andyet come 'within the scope of my invention.

- I claim:

1. In a water heater, they combination of a heat insulating Casin aWater reservoir adjacent one of the wa s of said casing, a plurality ofwater tubes extending in parallel and close relation intermediate saidreservoir and the opposite wall of said'casing, and of total capacityless than said reservoir, said tubes being interconnected and haying thedischarge end thereof located adjacentsaid opposite wall, and heatingelements arranged one intermediate each anijacent pair of tubes, and oneintermediate said reservoir and the tube adjacent thereto, substantiallyas described.

2. In a Water heater, the combination of a heat insulating casin a waterreservoir adjacent one of the Wa ls of said casing, a plurality of watertubes extendin in parallel and close relation interme ate said reservoirand the opposite wall of said cas ing, and of total capacityless' thansaid res,- ervoir.said -tubes consisting of interconnected straightconduits of flat and widened form, whereby. the at interior walls arespaced closely together, heating elements intermediate said .tubes 'of ashape and size corresponding closely therewith, and resistance wiressurrounding said elements adapted to generate heat. when energized by anappropriate electric Icurrent, the arrangement of said tubes andelements being such that practically the entire heating'surface of eachelement vis maintained in intimate proximity with substantially theentire surface of the adjacent tubes, substantially as described.

3. In a water heater, the combination of a heat insulating casing, awater reservoir adjacent one of the walls of said casing, a plurality ofwater tubes extending in parallel and close relation intermediate saidyreservoir and the opposite wall of said casing, and of totalcapacitylless than said reservoir, said tubes consisting of a pluralityof straight conduits of flat and widened form having the flatinteriorwalls thereof spaced closely to ether, divisional walls withineach of said tues extending in a longitudinal direction thereof, heatingelements intermediate lsaid tubes of a shape and size correspondingclosely therewith, and resistance wires surrounding said elementsadapted to generate heat when energized by appropriate electriccurrentythe arrangement of said tubes and elements being such thatpractically the entire heating surface of each element is maintained inintimate proximity with substantially the entire surface of the adjacenttubes and divisional walls therein, substantially as described.

4. In a water heater, the combination of l a reservoir, a plurality ofinterconnected water tubes extending 1n parallel and close relationthereto, and of total capacity less than said re'sei'voir, and heatingelements arranged onintermediate each adjacent pair of tubes, and oneintermediate said reservoir and the tube adjacent thereto, substantially as described.

n DOSIER H. MOSTELLER. Witnesses:

EPH'RAIM BANNING, WM. P. BoNn.

